I caught a piece of a report this weekend, and my heart told me to address it.

The consultant was being asked about the steady movement of young people toward violence in so many phases of their lives. It dealt with how our society has allowed, or promoted, the loss of sensitivity toward our brothers and sisters of humanity.

We used to be able to turn on the television and not fear seeing something harmful according to the moral standards of the time.

There certainly was no treatment of people as if they were mere toys. Though my wife and I could not prevent our children from coming into contact with the violent games other parents bought for their children, we never supported that desensitization of humans through toys or games in our home.

And my children never spent a dime (of my money when I was around) on the games in the hamburger joint where kick-fighting or martial arts was the main theme, and every thrust of hand or foot shot blood across the screen.

Is this entertainment? Some seem to think so. And, of course, the movie, television and games markets have progressed ever lower than this right through today’s world. It does not seem to matter that violent actions are being done against representations of other humans.

“It’s only a game, anyway.”

This is not to say all games are this way; I only address those I have seen and heard of as “popular” ones fitting the type of which I speak.

Technology has certainly progressed greatly from the days when having a “single line” telephone was a big deal (as opposed to the “party line;” some may remember those days). But now, young people across our land seem to be connecting with many friends with a single transmission, inciting others to do things like rioting by texting.

Even the thought of encouraging violence against another is abhorrent to me, but to suggest in a very public manner that a group gathers to cause destruction and loss of capital and/or life is ludicrous.

Decisions and actions taken by others are not directly our responsibility. Actions taken by radical extremists in Islam are not my responsibility, and actions taken by members of the Ku Klux Klan have nothing to do with me, my teachings or my decisions.

However, if I do not speak out against it, if I do not work with our young ones to delineate the “right” and the “wrong” ways to behave in society, then I am as guilty as the ones who write the programs which make the activity so attractive.

We had the road runner and the coyote, and Elmer Fudd, Tom and Jerry, and things like the Three Stooges. It’s a long drop to games that promote theft, destruction, the killing of individuals, and the scattering of blood in order to “win the prize.”

The consultant in the interview had the opinion that a swing of radicalism in our young people is on the way back toward moderation. I pray this is true. If left alone, this may indeed happen, but we should do more than let it happen on its own.

Many people with many dollars work hard to capture the minds and imaginations of young people with perverse ideology, and we need to work as hard to provide an alternative to that which maintains the value of human life and decent morals.

I write from the perspective of a rural, unincorporated area with no jobsupporting industry and no “center of town” with pub- lic gathering places. What is there to help the energetic, enthusiastic and creative personalities of our young people to be expressed in positive ways they can enjoy?

If we do not band together and provide them, then young people will continue to turn toward what is available, regardless of its alignment with Christian ideals.

If we do not want to be condemned along with those who lead young people astray, we need to be a part of a group that’s doing something positive to proplacing vide the gathering places, supervision, and activities that will capture the imaginations and hearts of the future of our country.

So I encourage everyone who cares to find someone else who cares and join forces to establish positive entertainment alternatives for our young people.

Frustration is often experienced in isolation, and progress in community. Let’s find a neighbor and get to work. Time is short.

Prather is pastor of Lake Palestine United Methodist Church near Chandler.